Fayetteville locals know a secret: some of the city’s most over-the-top breakfast and brunch sandwiches are coming out of a tiny, blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cafe on Elm Street. 🥪
The no-frills, cash-only charm of MaryBill’s Cafe & Elbow Room, paired with plates that practically overflow with bacon, eggs, gravy, pancakes, and ribeye, has turned this under-the-radar spot into a morning obsession for regulars who crave big portions at small prices. 😋
The Tiny Fayetteville Brunch Joint Locals Can’t Stop Talking About
From the outside, MaryBill’s Cafe & Elbow Room looks like the kind of place you might drive right past on your way to a chain restaurant, but insiders know that’s a huge mistake.
Breakfast & brunch list reviewers rave about “amazing” food like “The Thing” and pancakes that some call the best they’ve ever had, with portions so generous that many guests share plates and still leave stuffed. 🥞
What really fuels its rise is the balance of classic, no-nonsense comfort food and a cozy, family-style atmosphere that feels like breakfast at a favorite relative’s house.
Regulars gush about friendly, attentive servers who keep coffee hot, drinks filled, and orders flowing, even when the small space is packed and there’s a wait out the door, which has helped earn MaryBill’s a spot among the best breakfast restaurants in Fayetteville and shout-outs in local “best breakfast in Fayetteville” roundups.
The result is a word-of-mouth hotspot where locals bring visiting family, military folks grab a hearty brunch, and out-of-towners leave already planning their next visit. ✨
Food Highlights
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“The Thing”: This over-the-top breakfast brunch plate is a local legend, described by regulars (and teased in best breakfast guides) as “a little bit of everything” on one dish, loaded with gravy, hash browns, bacon, and eggs for a forkful of comfort in every bite that’s perfect for hearty eaters who want the full MaryBill’s experience in one go. 🤯
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Pancakes: The pancakes here get serious love for their fluffy, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth feel and are often called some of the best in Fayetteville where diners can order a three-pancake plate or choose a combo with eggs and bacon, sausage, or ham, making them perfect for both carb lovers and classic breakfast fans. 🥞
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Biscuit and Gravy: Built on homemade ground beef and sausage gravy poured over a biscuit (or toast or English muffin), this dish is highlighted on the MaryBill’s Cafe menu and gets singled out as “phenomenal” for its rich, comfort-heavy plate that wins over both first-timers and regulars who want something Southern and satisfying. 🍽️
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Breakfast Sandwiches (Bacon, Egg & Cheddar Hoagie): Their griddled breakfast sandwiches feature combos like bacon, egg, and cheddar topped with lettuce and tomato on a warm hoagie, served with grits or hash browns, and are among the diners’ favorites as a portable, filling option that still captures the big-flavor, big-portion style MaryBill’s is known for. 🥪
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Eggs Benedict & Crab Cake Benedict: Eggs with capicola ham over a grilled biscuit topped with creamy hollandaise, or crab cakes with eggs and hollandaise over an English muffin, both served with grits or hash browns, these dishes feel a little more “brunch fancy” while still being hearty, homey, and very photo-worthy. 🧆
Atmosphere
Inside MaryBill’s Cafe & Elbow Room, the vibe is cozy, casual, and a little quirky, with decor that feels more like a beloved neighborhood hangout than a polished chain and fits perfectly with its role among Fayetteville’s best brunch spots. 🪑
Guests often describe it as family-oriented and comfortable, with servers who are upbeat, attentive, and treat regulars like old friends, echoing the warm tone you see in local brunch guides and “best of Fayetteville” lists.
The space is on the small side, so waits can happen, but many guests say the conversation, energy, and hot plates coming out fast make the time pass quickly.
It’s the kind of spot where you leave smelling like bacon and coffee—in the best possible way. ☕
Bottom Line
MaryBill’s is worth a detour for huge portions, craveable pancakes and brunch plates, affordable prices, and a cozy, family-style vibe that keeps Fayetteville locals coming back—plus it’s a perfect fuel stop before tackling fun things to do in Fayetteville or checking out more of Fayetteville’s brunch scene. 😍
Address:
801 Elm St, Fayetteville, NC 28303
📞 (910) 221-1170
🕔 Open Tue–Sat, 7 AM–2 PM (closed Sun and Mon)